Inside Line Promotions - CHICO, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2013) - Business is going so well that Austen Wheatley is done racing for the season.
Unfortunately, it ended on a rough note. Wheatley struggled finding grip during a half-dozen races across the West Coast with the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series.
"I would say the only good showing was in Skagit," he said. "That would be the most productive weekend as far as showing speed."
Wheatley opened competition against the premier sprint car series on Friday, Aug. 30, at Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash., by timing in 23rd quickest, placing eighth in his heat race and fifth in the Last Chance Showdown. He then rallied from 23rd to end 16th in the main event.
The momentum continued the ensuing night at the 3/10-mile track as Wheatley qualified 17th quickest and was in a transfer position in his heat race when his engine let go on the final lap, relegating him to the Last Chance Showdown.
However, Wheatley picked up the victory in the consolation race to transfer to the feature, which he finished 19th.
"I think we got up to about 14th," he said. "On a restart I jumped the cushion and got passed by a bunch of people."
The team tackled Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash., on Monday, Sept. 2, for the first time this season.
"It'd been a long time since we've raced at Grays Harbor," he said. "I think we were pretty fast toward the end of the night."
Wheatley qualified 23rd quickest, ended ninth in his heat race and advanced from seventh to fourth place in the Last Chance Showdown.
"We struggled a little bit early," he said. "We got rolling pretty good as the night went on. Then on the warm-up lap we broke a driveline. We didn't even get to run."
Wheatley was pushed to the pits before the green flag and credited with a 24th-place result.
His luck didn't get any better the ensuing night at Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore. Wheatley was 22nd quickest, finished eighth in his heat race and 11th in the Last Chance Showdown after a couple of incidents on the tricky track.
The team hauled to Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore., last Thursday. Wheatley timed in 23rd quickest and slid off the track in turn two during his heat race, which ended with the car on its side. He then placed seventh in the Last Chance Showdown to miss a transfer by one position.
"It was just a big disappointment," he said. "Normally that's my place; bang against the curb on the edge of the track and go. We couldn't get any grip. We had none. I was going nowhere."
The season wrapped up last Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway for the first night of the 60th annual Gold Cup Race of Champions. Wheatley qualified 13th quickest of the 55 competitors, but finished in the back of his heat race after spinning out late.
"I was on the top and the track came in around the bottom," he said. "The bottom was starting to come in on my heat. I spun out with like two to go."
The frustrations continued at the start of the Last Chance Showdown and Wheatley headed pitside after an opening-lap crash.
"I spun out on the first lap and t-boned like three people," he said. "It was a hell of a week."
Now focus returns to his business and the launch of its new website - http://www.DownforceClothing.com.
QUICK RESULTS -
Aug. 30 - Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. - Qualifying: 23; Heat race: 8 (8); B Main: 5 (5); Feature: 16 (23).
Aug. 31 - Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash. - Qualifying: 17; Heat race: 10 (6); B Main: 1 (2); Feature: 19 (17).
Sept. 2 - Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Wash. - Qualifying: 23; Heat race: 9 (8); B Main: 4 (7); Feature: 24 (20).
Sept. 3 - Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Ore. - Qualifying: 22; Heat race: 8 (8); B Main: 11 (5).
Sept. 4 - Cottage Grove Speedway in Cottage Grove, Ore. - Qualifying: 23; Heat race: 10 (8); B Main: 7 (5).
Sept. 6 - Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, Calif. - Qualifying: 13; Heat race: 11 (2); B Main: 16 (6).
SEASON STATS -
26 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 1 top 10, 2 top 15s, 7 top 20s
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS -
Website: http://www.AustenWheatley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiniWheats44w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DownForceDesigns?fref=ts
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT - Redlined Welding & Construction
Redlined Welding & Construction performs welding and construction for fishing boats and processors. Based out of Lake Stevens, Wash., Redlined Welding & Construction is owned and operated by Austen's father, Shannon Wheatley.
"Redlined Welding & Construction is a family business and we race with a family team, so without Redlined Welding & Construction I wouldn't be able to race," Austen Wheatley said. "It is the heart and soul of this team."
Wheatley would also like to thank Downforce Designs, The Oil Medics, Astro Titanium, Fire-Down Graphics, BR Motorsports, Bell and King Racing Products for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS -
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations, media management and merchandising services for sprint car teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and your sponsors' return on investment.
To meet the media relations needs of your team, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or sprintcarreporter@yahoo.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.insidelinepromotions.com.
- Admin Account on Sep 12, 2013
- Article Date: 9/12/2013 by Shawn Miller